Variety (January 1924)

)• VARIETY LEGITIMATE 'rfiiirsday, Jalnuary 10, ItU $289,500 G^OSS IN LOOP DESPITE NtW YEAR'S HDSTILE WiATHER No Curtain-Time Window Sales—New Year's Eve Big Biz of High-Scaled Shows—"Follies," "Kiki" and "Abie" Big Leaders Chicago, Jon. }. Xew Tear's week for the loop thc- »tree was choked with a reconl variation of hostile weather. Yet an approximate total groaa of {289,- tOO was checked in 16 th«atrca. Rain, bllzzardfl and below tero temperature squashed all posslblll- tl«« of a general clean-up, quite rlflble in the grasp of the attrac- tions before the elements Interfered. Advance Ba!e«_^nia6e prior to Dec. to for th« first week of the new year were sensationally heavy but that's where everything vtopped. Absence of curtain Ume window sales, due to the deserted loop streets, made weak the bajcony figures. In the face of 1( degrees below zero weather Sat- urday the closing performance of the week (Saturday night—Increased prices) held up extraordinarily well although Uiere were only three sell- outs. Shows charging "$5.50 New Year's Kve drew an average trade of close to $4,000 for the single performance. "The Follies" figured around JH,- 000 for the New Year's Eve per- formance at $11 top price. There was no New Years matinee at Iho Colonial. "Abie's Irish Rose" drew $8,000 on two performances New Year's Eve, charging $5 for the first show and $4 for tho midnight show. It was hard to purchase a seat for any theatre in the loop for Nenv Year's Eve after Saturday night. Despite the cap.icity sales there were many empty seats noticeable In most of the houses Iiecauae ticket holders destroyed their tickets rather th.in face the elements, which were a combination of blinding snow ftiul zero temperature. The "specs" made a clean-up on their New Year's Eve stock, get- tinp; $11 a.s an average premium, and In la.st minute instances much hlsher. New Tear's matinee and night grosses were way off, particularly the matinee s.ilcs. One-third filled houses wore the rule In the major- ity of the theatres which gave New Year's matinee performances. "Klki" and "Abie's Irish Rose" were the exceptions. Tho dramatic shows averaged $800 for the New Year's matinee with "Tho Nervous Wre<;k" prob- ably Retting the best break with the $l..'!no matinee outside of "Kikl" and "Able." ''Top.sy and Eva" follow- Inp the $4,500 New Year's Eve gross failed to better $1,200 at tho New Year's matinee. Tho name wjis true of "The Best People." a substantial hit, which drew little better than $4,000 New Year's ICve to fall off New Year's matinee. It was reckoned that the New Year's malineo figures would have been higher If the usual throngs had been on the streets In- stead of having been kept Inside by tho severe temperature. 3 Shows Stood Out •The Follies," "Kiki" and "Abie's Irish Ro.«;e" were the three shows which withstood the we.ither oppo- sition and sallied forth for capacity houses at all performances. Tho ef- foct of the New Year's demand for seats was plainly seen in the drop in grosses for the hit attractions on Sunday night. It was a case of the playgoers resting up for the New Years Eve cnthusKosm which would have been greater umler better weather conditions, as far as de- monstration was concerned. Duncan Sisters in "Top-sy and Eva" at the Selwyn drew the united Interest Dec. 30. It was the only premiere of tho night for "We Moderns" didn't open nt the Ulack- stono until Monday. Duncan Sisters figured around $2,700 In gross for the premiere at the Selwyn. l!y some manipulation the usual first- nighters couldn't get tickets for the Selwyn i.r-miere. Strange faces foi a loop premiere were noted. It was an audience that sent off the Dun- can Sisters vehicle to a flying start. The newspaper reviews, except Donaghey ("Tribune") lauded the Duncans to the skies. The piece Is doubtful for prolonis'pd Chicago suc- cess. Inferences that ra.st changes should have been made before "Top.sy and Eva" c.inie to Chicago were lobby gossip. Indor the cxl.«t- Ing musical play conjiiititldn In tlic loop ""Topsy ,Tnd Eva"" will have a hard time of It unless Immediate ca."! charges are mail.5 despite the $20,000 gross week tabbed on its- pi .miere. "We Moderns"' failed to etch nn.v of the holiday ifeek spirit, opening- at tho Ulaeltstone. Rapid Improvi-I ment will have to be shown If the r':;? ;:".""■":.'' :.■.":.'' " :" '*"—^! weekfi. The critics gave Zangwill's comedy much attention, as always happens In Chicago for any of George Tyler's productions. '"The Nervous Wreck" is getting a fine call at the Harris. With an Improvement In the matinee sales the comedy will,hold splendid pros- pects of settling into a strong $16,- 000 gross attraction, great profit all-around. On Its first week "The Nervous Wreck" broke the house record for a week's groaa doing over $17,000. In running ne«k-to- neck with "Topsy and Elva" in figures. "The Nervoue Wreck" played to more people than did the musical show at the other Twin, 50 cents difference being noted In the prices. Unless the bottom falls out Immediately ''The Nervous Wreck" win run along evenly. Cohan's show, "IiltUe Nellie Kelly" continues to hold aloft all the records of "The Rise of Rosle O'Reilly" at Cohan's Grand. "Cbauve-Souri^' Is doing exception- ally well at the Garrlck with hopes 0- augmented sales, following the expected lull this week, by the an- nouncement that on next Sunday thero win be a complete change of program. Both of Lester Bryant's shows. The Highwayman" at the Playhouse and "The Honeymoon House' at the Central, picked up their respective share of holiday money. "The High- wayman" is a seml-hll, averaging $700 nightly. "Old Soak" Oldest "The Old Soak" now holds the record of being the oldest attraction In town, but If the usual Saturday and Sunday sales drop much more than they were Inclined to prior to the holiday rush new fields will be sought. "In Love With Love," cam- paigned right up to the finish, but with no results, vacating the Xa. Salle Saturday to be replaced by a musical show, "Moonlight." Robert Mantell's experiences with Shake- speare at tho Illinois was disastnus, receiving opposition with tho ap- proach of Sothern-Marlowc at the Great Northern. "Romeo and Juliet" was the opening bill at the Great Northern Monday. Al Jolson Is In for three weeks at the Apollo, taking up the time of "The Passing Show,'" which endured an erratic engagement. "The Town Clown" added to the musical play line-up with its premiere at the Illi- nois Sunday. "Tho Rest People" Is holding Its own against the clientele which Is making sensational the stay of "Kiki." "A King F'or a Day" gives up at the Cort Saturday with IjCO Ditrichstein coming In a play called "The Business Widow." Loops Line-up The line-up of attractions now In the loop theatres Indicates that the next fortnight will disclose some of the ricliest competition checked here for many moons. There are nine comedies, seven musical plays and the heavy touch of Shakespeare, plus the final two performances by lluse at the Auditorium, with the gayest competition happening among the musical shows. In grossing $3,200 Sunday night '-Vble's Irish Rose" promises to lead "Kiki," the real dram.itlo contender for first honors. The Studebaker sensation draws $3 top on Sunday nights. Monday night's performance of "Able" was sold to a private organization for J1.500. Moderation of the Intense lero weather transpired Sunday noon, giving a little help to window sales, but small grosses were charged to the openings at the Illinois and the I.juSulle. Al Jolson struck around $.5,000 for the Apollo opening. The hotels showed ,a surprise call among the musicals for "Topsy and Eva" in the fact of the three musical openings. Estimates for last week: "Topsy and Eva" (Selwyn, 1st week). Trlumtih of Duncan Sisters tons of publicity and an exception- ally good Innldng chorus of Cali- fornia girls doubtful to be strong enough to carry the cast weaknesses and the present construction of idea for piece. Full share of New Year's sales helped to gain $20,000. In for six weeks. "We Moderns" (niark.stone, ls( week). Opened .Monday but made no headway In sales after IcnKtli.v attention fronr critics, well dis|ioseil toward hiph-brow references to art and literature. Doubtful if $7,000 was reached. "Tho P«»:ing Show" (Apollo, 8th and final week). Got big help with •».« fiinoo •siM N»w Year's Rve IIGHTNIN'" IN FRISCO; ONLY $24,000 LAST WEEK Kolb and Dili Got $4,500— Ferris Hartman Musical Stock, $4,800 San Francisco, Jan. •. "LIghtnIn'" with Percy Pollock, at the Columbia, did $24,000 last week and Is there again this week. Kolb and Dill in "A Big Reward" at the Curran, and their final week, drew $4,500, "White Sifter" at Capitol got $7,000, and at the Alca- car the final week of Belle Bennett in stock with "Why Men Iieave Home" brought In $4,700. The Ferris Hartman stock at the Casino with "The Toy Maker" got $4,800. This week the "White Sister" film holds over, with a tab musical show, "Hello Prosperity," at the Curran, while Pauline Lord Is play- ing "Anna Christie" with the Al- cazar stock and the Hartman mu.slcal stock is doing "The Spring Maid." "MOONLIGHT'S" BAD STAET Chicago, Jan. 9 "Moonlight" got a bad start Sun- i\ay night at the La Salle. Delayed in arrival, It hurried to get set, and gave a ragged pcrloiniance. It's a Lawrence Weber produc- tion with Louis Simon, Ernest Glen- den uing, Paul Burns, Wanda Lyons, Ella Ersi and SyblUu Bowhan among the princlptils. The piece, by William LcBaron, is musical with a chorus. It's an- nounced for a limited engagement, and may be taken from here to New York for revision before presented on Broadway. (Jast changes are ex- pected. (two performances) to reach $23,- 000 on the'week. Al Jolson opened Sund.iy night, with expect-atlons of equalling his records of last year. . ."The Follies" (Colonial, 2nd week). Capacity throughout with seats hard to gel anywhere. Ilich scale New Year's Eve brought week's gross to $47,500. "Chauve - Souris" (Garrlck, 3rd week). Getting "smash" play with good showmanship offering change of bill next Sunday to hold up sales to finish of engagement. Figured $37,000.' .."Abie's Irish Rose" (Studebaker, 2nd week). Extra performances and tilted scale increased gross to around $31,0110 , most remarkable H.as town In full grasp and threat- ens to set pace. "The Nervous Wreck" (Harris. •:nd week). Gave house biggest Kross ($20,000) since erected. Get- ting set right for long stay. "Kiki" (Powers, 2nd weuk). Dra- matic knockout of town. Clean sweep at every performance; $0.60 for New Year's Eve brought gross around $27,000. "Little Nellie Kelly" (Cohan's Grand, 3rd week). Holding mag- nificently Cohan popularity In this town, as evidenced by gross of $25,- 600. "In Love with Love" (I.aSalle; final week). Stepped out after an- other $7,000 week. "Moonlight" (mu- sical) opened Sunday. Robsrt Mantell (Illinois; Znd and final week). Sales proved local playgoers evaded Shakespeare for holiday fill. Held around $0,000. "Town Clown" (musical) opened Sunday. "Honeymoon House" (Central: "nd week). Jumped to around $7,500 by Increased prices New Year's Eve. Attractive newspaper ads. "The Hiflhwaynnsn" iPlayhouse; 2nd week). Little stronger than $9,000, but feels severe competition among comedies In town In advancr^ sale for this week. "Old Soak" (Princess; ICth week) Popi>ed up to $12,000 class by New Ve.'ir's Kve s.'iles. Attention now Riven Saturday-Sunday sales, for f.all-off has berorne noticeaI:Ie. em phatically so Sundav of this week. "A King for a Day" (Tort; 6tl'. week). Oeiiarts Saturday, with Leo nitrichstein's engagement In "A Huslnc«s WIrlnw" announced for Sunday. "King" did close to $8,000 "The Best People" (Ad<'Iplii; 9lli week) Didn't fell out Sunda\ nif^lit (untisii;il), but ramo b.ack strong and ripped off $1.1.500. Feel- ing effects of "Kiki" demand at ho- i*l«. and rush for "Follies.'* SHOWS IN N. Y. AND COMMENI ; Figures Mtimated and oommant point to Mm* attraetiona boing successful, whilo tho aam* gross aceratfitad to other* might auggoat mediocrity or losa- Tho varianca is explained in tha difforene* in house capacities, with th* varying overhead Also tha aiz* of oaat, with con'teauart diffaranca in necessary gross for profit Vanane* in businasa nacaasary tor musical attraction as against dramatie play la also eonaidarad. « "Abia'a Irish Roaa," Republic (8$th week). Times Square ahowmen did bit of complaining early last week when New Year's business was not up to snuff; the week closed strongly, whole list picking up from Thursday oik "Able" with two extra matinees got $17,- 600 again. "Aren't Wo All," Gaiety (31th week). When Cyril Maude went out of cast, takings last week went oft sharply; after another week "The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lin-" coin" will succeed. "Artists and Models," Shubert (21st week). This much discussed re- vue was away off after Thanks- giving; with exftra performances it Jumped but not capacity. Last week In 10 pmormancea takings ware under $26,000. "Chains," Playhouse. Taken off last Saturday alter remaining 16 weeks. "The New Poor" secured bouse and opened Monday "Chariot's Revua of 1924," Times Square (1st week). English re- vue's premiere held Wednesday. Advance reports are it will get class draw. Played to nearly $15,- 000 In Atlantic City last week. "Chicken Feed," Little (16th week). No extra matinee last week but got share of holiday trade, ap- proximating that of early Novem- ber for gross of about $9,000. "Cyrano De Bergerac," National (7th week). Walter Hampden so successful with Cyr.ano has an- nounced other presentations listed for subscription season are off. Last week was sensational, gross being .iroiind $25,000 In nine performances. "Follies," Amsterdam (12th week). Drew capacity all performances last week. Withoift e;.tra matinee and with no change In prices for New Year's eve. Takings around $43,000, just over record gross of "Stepping Stones." "For All of Us," 49th Street (13th week). Got bettor results than Christmas week, being added mStince New Year's with result about $10,000. Moving to Ambas- sador next Monday, the 49th Street getting "Jypsy Jirae." "Greenwich Village Follies," Winter Garden (17th week). Fnial week for this season revue edition. Broadw.a engagement counts suc- cess; run not as long as last sea- son but attraction then played smaller house (Shubert). "Hurricane," Frolic (3rd week). An- other two weeks attraction hav- ing rented house for four weeks. Business between $4,500 and $6,000 with close to latter figure last week. May be sent on tour, though failed to attract here. "In the Next Room," Vanderbilt (7th week). Drawing excellently. Last week high with gross about $14,- 500. Played additional holiday matir^e. Looks set until spring or later. Kid Boots," Earl Carroll (2nd week). Starting oft sensationally. Premiere performance $16.50 top which accounts for show getting $38,000 first week. Playing $5.50 top regularly and leading the field In demand. Laugh Clown Laugh," Bel.asco (7th week). Unquestionably leader of new dramas now with "Cyrano De Bergerac" excepted. Last week takings went to nearly $19,000, added matinee for New Year's. Little Jessie James," Longacrc (22nd week). Charged $6.60 New Year's eve. That with additional performance gave show strong gross at $15,600. Little Miss Bluebeard," Lyceum (20th week). Went to better fig- urea than most of non-musicals last week when without extra performance gross over $13,000. Should run to Washington's Birthday. "Lullaby," Knickerbocker (17th week). Lost big push of oarly months and will be succeeded Jan. 21 by "Lollipop." 'Madre," Lenox Hill (3rd week). Drab drama located In an out of way house. Must draw on own but If operating cost Is low may stick for time. 'Mary Jane McKane," Imperial (3rd week). Eased down mddla of Last week but came back strong from Thiirsilay onward. With an extra matinee gross went to little over $21,000. "Meet the Wife," Klaw (7th week) Playeil nine performances like most other attractions, and last week's takings totaled about $'12,- 300. Making money from 8t,art thouu'h not ca|>acity draw. "Mr. Battlinq Buttler," Selwyn (15tli week). During pre-hollday slump hut small drop for this inusic.il Has shown (ftrength right alone. IjuxI week, without added mati- nee business went over $18,000. "Musio Box Revua," Music Box (17th week). Inserted special m&t> Inee New Year's and moved up to nearly $33,000 laat week. StUl getting great call and box offlo* selling everything left over wKh ease. "Neighbors," 48th St. (Jrd week). Managed to do capacity Noir Year's Eve, cinch for most any attraction. Business thereafter about $350 nightly with-Saturday probably $700. Estimated at $E,0(H) to $G,00O last week. "One Kias," Fulton (7th week). Though not among big musical*, 1» making money. Laat we«lc without added matlnee«k groaa went to $16,000 or little over, (^jn- tinues to draw smart audiences. "Outward Bourid," Ritz (l»t week). Opened Monday, critics voting It exceptional. Tuesday nigh* houao claimed capacity. Play U Bni^* lish origin, having recently chMod in London. "Poppy," Apollo <19th week). With< out added matinee went to over "$25,000. Equalled highest mooey yet drawn In house and pars with b^t amorvg attraction* of liko ecale. "Rain," Maxlne Elliot's <62nd week). No extra matinee, holdover smasb alwaye holding to eight perfonn- ar>ces. Lifted scales for New Years eve and day sent gross over normal capacity with figuro around $16,000. "Rise of Rosie O'Reilly," Uberty (3rd week). Cohan's musical off to sensational start. Last week. with one extra matinee, takings almost $26,000, whlth tope all $S top musicals. Looks set for bal- ance of season. "Roaeanne," Greenwich Village (Srd week). Play whose ch.aracters aro entirely colored, though played by white actors. Attention attracted and piece mnv draw. "Runnin' Wild," Colonial (11th week). Switched regular Thurs- day midnight show to Monday (.New Years eve) l.i.st week. Groes beet slnco first month, total going to nearly $18,500. "Saint Joan," Garrlck (3rd wcok). Theatre Guild seems to have land- ed with Shaw's latest work. Al- though diversity of opinion and show needs cutting, drawing ca- p.aclty and likely to move uptown next month. Pace $8,000 or bet- ter. Small theatre. "Seventh Heaven," Booth (»Srd week). Standing up so well through holiday time and nor- mally, little doubt this holdover will last out second season. Laat weok takings were $14,200 In nino performances. • "Song and Dance Man," Hudson (2nd week). First week of George M. Cohan's personal appearance show accounted for splendid grosA, takings around $16,000. No extra matinee. "Spring Cleaning," Eltlnge (10th week). Well over $14,000 again last week and signs indicate It will remain through winter. Smart play drawing smart audience* with repeaters. Extra matlnea last week. "Stepping Stones," Globe (10th week). New house record last week by virtue of $11 top New Year's eve and added ma/tine«i count being $42,300. Nothing on Broadway beat that figure, with exception of "Follies," which may have gotten a few hundred more. "Sun Up," Princess (33rd week). This long running short cast dramji may fool Broadway and laat Into spring for year's rtay. It can make money at moderate grosses. La*t week In nine performance* grossed $5,600, satisfactory la house of this rize (299 seats). "Tarnish," Belmont (15th week). In and out business early last week evened up in most cases by strong business after Wedneaday, which was true here. Gross IHtlo under $9,000. "The Alarm Clock," 39th St. (Ir>d week). Plcke<l up somewhat last week with takings between $7,000 and $8,000. House, however, listed to get new attraction Jan. 21, Pirandello's •Henry IV" being nameik "The Blue Bird," Jolson's (Srd wee). Final week. Revival suc- cessful as matinee draw b«caase_ of appeal to cliiUlren. Night per- formances aw.iy off. I'laying eight perform.! nce.i this week, only nli,-ht iierfnrmances Friday and S.itnrday. Last week over $17,000. .Moscow Art returns next week. "The Dancers," Anilia.ssador (13th w<ek). Will in()\e back to Am- bassador next Monday. Gross Meady at $14,000 or bettor..Started easin.ir ov; shortly after removal. La.st week taking's were about $11,(1(10 in nine ncri'm-m.-inees. "The Lady," Kmiiiie (0th week). iioirig moderately big business, aur- (Continued on page K)